Mold for casting a weighted treble fishing hook

ABSTRACT

A casting mold having separable segments defining a cavity, the segments normally being held together by a slip-on holding member.

Ullltd States Patent 11 1 1111 3,709,458 Mattson 1 51 Jan. 9, 1973 [5 MOLD FOR CASTING A WEIGHTED References C d TREBLE FISHING HOOK UNITED STATES PATENTS [76] Herbert Mam, 231392 8/1880 Bramhall et al. 249/95 x Gateshead Rwkfmd, Mich- 49341 3,543,303 11/1970 Sacchiero ..249/l64 2,642,899 5/1953 Simmonset al. .249/154 x [22] 1971 1,000,470 3/1911 Widmann ..249/1e7 x [2]] Appl. No.: 104,972 g Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin 52 U.S. (:1 ..249/95, 249/164 Amway-Glen 51 Int. Cl. ..B22d 19/00 57 A [58] Field ofSearch..l8/42 R; 164/112; 249/95, 164, 1 CT A casting mold having separable segments defining a cavity, the segments normally being held together by a slip-0n holding member.

PATENTEDJM 9 ma 3. 709,458

//v VE/VTOR HERBERT L. MA rrson/ BY Zr"? MOLD FOR CASTING A WEIGIITED TREBLE FISHING HOOK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Fishing techniques are continually being developed around the particular conditions associated with each locality. In areas where the standard procedure is trolling at various depths determined by temperature requirements, a considerable assortment of weighted hooks is a necessity. Detachable sinkers have been found to be much less handy than hooks with a weight mass cast integrally around the hook. This sort of fishing tackle, unfortunately, must necessarily be regarded as expendable. On this basis, the cost of a large assortment of hooks weighted to satisfy the various conditions that might be encountered becomes a substantial item. Fishermen have discovered that the manufacture of weighted hooks for their own use not only saves a considerable amount of money, but also produces the enjoyment that comes with working on recreational equipment.

Repeated casting of relatively standard configurations is most efficiently done by a process commonly referred to as die-casting. It is common practice to construct a mold of separable segments defining a cavity, the separability being necessary in order to extract the piece after it has been solidified from the initially liquid molten metal. The usual die casting technique involves injection under great pressure, and consequently requires massive equipment to hold the die elements in position during the casting operation. The casting of a lead weight mass, however, requires no such precision. Lead is a relatively low-melting material, and the primary objective is merely the accumulation of the necessary quantity of lead, rather than any high degree of precision in surface configuration. In view of this, it becomes possible to utilize some of the advantages of the standard die-casting techniques with a simple structure of very low cost, and of a nature that pennits the casting operation to be performed in conjunction with the kitchen stove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A plurality of separable segments together defining a casting cavity are held together by at least one holding member surrounding these segments, and easily detachable from the group. Preferably, a holding member is provided at the opposite ends of the group, with the engagement and disengagement of the holding members taking place in a direction parallel to the axis of the group. The interengaging surfaces between the holding member and the segments are preferably inclined with respect to the axis of the group, resulting in a wedging action that not only clamps the elements securely together, but simplifies disengagement of the holding members after the casting process is completed. The cavity segments not only define the cavity itself, but also a passage communicating between the cavity and the exterior, forming a channel through which the molten metal can be poured into the cavity. Passages can also be provided at the junction surfaces between the cavity segments to provide spaces for receiving insert elements extending into the cavity, and around which the molten metal is to be poured. In the preferred form of the invention, one of the holding members is provided with a panel covering the end junction of the cavity segments, and this holding member forms a base on which the mold can be placed for the pouring operation. Any of the molten metal finding its way downward through the possible junction openings, or insert-receiving spaces, will be entrapped by the holding member so that the metal does not flow out over a table surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a complete assembly of the mold components, with a treble fish hook in position as an insert.

FIG. 2 is a section on the plane 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section on an axial plane of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the components of the casting mold.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the components of the mold taken apart preparatory to withdrawing a completed piece.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a standard treble fish hook with a weight mass integrally cast around portions of the hook.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The casting mold shown assembled and ready for use in FIG. 1 includes the components shown in FIG. 4, together with a standard treble hook 10. The three cavity-forming segments ll, 12, and 13 are normally held together by the holding rings 14 and 15 engaging the opposite ends, respectively, of the group of segments 11-13. Each of the segments has a portion shown at 11a, 12a and 13a, which defines a space in which lead is to be poured to form the weight mass 16. The segments also have curved grooves shown at llb-c, l2b-c and 13b-c in the junction surfaces lld-e, l2d-e, and l3d-e which define spaces for receiving the curved portions of the book 10. The portions 11f, 12f, and 13f define the space for receiving the shank of the hook 10, with the enlarged areas defined by the portions 11g, 12g, and 13g receiving the looped end of the shank. The exterior recesses h in each of the segments are for the purpose of economizing on the amount of metal used in the segments.

The interior surfaces of the holding rings 14 and 15 are tapered, matching with the tapered surfaces shown at 17 and 18 in FIG. 3. Each of the cavity segments is similar in configuration, and forcing the holding rings onto the ends of the group of segments will generate a wedging action clamping the segments securely together. The holding ring 15 has a portion 15a extending across the junction of the ends of the segments, forming a cup to entrap any molten metal that might work its way down through the passage receiving the shank of the hook. Normally the sudden cooling of the molten lead will solidify the metal before it reaches the bottom of the assembly. The components of the mold are preferably of aluminum, which facilitates the heat transfer from the molten metal over to the components of the mold.

Usually the most convenient way to use the assembly shown in the drawing is to stand it in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The lower holding ring 15 functions as a base, with the clearance between the portion 15a and the end of the mold segments providing for the development of the necessary wedging action. Molten lead can be poured into the cavity a, with the degree of fill being determined by the amount of weight desired. The pouring operation is best done with a small metal ladle, in which lead can be melted with nothing more complicated than the burner of a kitchen stove. The entire mold assembly can be carried conveniently in any tackle box, and the first few sinkers can be poured without the build-up of enough heat in the mold components to make it inconvenient to handle the assembly by hand. If a larger number of these is to be cast, however, the use of gloves is recommended.

I claim: 1. A mold for casting a weighted treble fishing hook, comprising:

at least three separable segments together defining a casting cavity, a hook shank receiving recess, and a conduit extending from the exterior of said segments to said cavity, said segments being disposed in sectors about an axis, and having planes of separation adapted to correspond to the disposition of the curved portions of said hook, said segments having surfaces together defining lateral passages between each of said segments extending into said cavity for receiving said curved portions; and at least one holding member normally surrounding said segments and holding them together in cavitydefining relative position.

2. The mold of claim 1 including a second holding member normally surrounding said segments at said opposite end thereof.

3. A mold for casting weighted prising:

a plurality of separable segments having surfaces which together define a casting cavity, a hook shank receiving recess, a conduit extending from the exterior of said segments to said cavity, and lateral passages extending from the exterior of said segments to said cavity for receiving curved portions of a hook; and

at least one holding member normally surrounding said segments and holding them together in cavitydefining relative position, said holding member surrounding one end of said segments, said conduit being disposed at the opposite end thereof said recess extending to the exterior of said segments at said one end, and, said holding member having a portion thereof covering the junction of said segments at said one end.

4. The mold of claim 3 including a second holding member normally surrounding said segments at said opposite end thereof.

fishing hooks, com- 

1. A mold for casting a weighted treble fishing hook, comprising: at least three separable segments together defining a casting cavity, a hook shank receiving recess, and a conduit extending from the exterior of said segments to said cavity, said segments being disposed in sectors about an axis, anD having planes of separation adapted to correspond to the disposition of the curved portions of said hook, said segments having surfaces together defining lateral passages between each of said segments extending into said cavity for receiving said curved portions; and at least one holding member normally surrounding said segments and holding them together in cavity-defining relative position.
 2. The mold of claim 1 including a second holding member normally surrounding said segments at said opposite end thereof.
 3. A mold for casting weighted fishing hooks, comprising: a plurality of separable segments having surfaces which together define a casting cavity, a hook shank receiving recess, a conduit extending from the exterior of said segments to said cavity, and lateral passages extending from the exterior of said segments to said cavity for receiving curved portions of a hook; and at least one holding member normally surrounding said segments and holding them together in cavity-defining relative position, said holding member surrounding one end of said segments, said conduit being disposed at the opposite end thereof said recess extending to the exterior of said segments at said one end, and, said holding member having a portion thereof covering the junction of said segments at said one end.
 4. The mold of claim 3 including a second holding member normally surrounding said segments at said opposite end thereof. 